Rocker switch interlock with spring latch member

ABSTRACT

A rocker switch assembly includes first and second rocker switches positioned side-by-side, with the pivot axis of the operating member of the first switch aligned with the pivot axis of the operating member of the second switch. A U-shaped resilient member is carried by the switches with the parallel limbs of the U-shaped member extending parallel to and on opposite sides respectively of the pivot axis of the operating members of the switches. The limbs of the resilient member constitute first and second latch pieces, the first latch piece co-operating with the operating members of the first and second switches to prevent movement of the second switch from an off position to an on position until the first switch has been moved to an on position, and the second latch piece co-operating with the operating members of the first and second switches to prevent movement of the first switch from an on position to an off position until the second switch has been moved to an off position.

United States Patent 1 Foley I 5] 4 Dec. 19, 1972 R CKER SWITCHINTERLOCK W TH Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer SPRING LATCH MEMBERAssistant Examiner-M. Ginsburg [721 inventor: David Foley, Burnley,England Atmmey l i?]man Stem [73] Assignee: Joseph Lucas (Industries)Limited, [57] ABSTRACT B h ,-E 1 d mmng am an A rocker switch assemblyincludes first and second Filed; 23, 1971 rocker switches positionedside-by-side, with vthe pivot [21] APP'LNO: 117,980 axis of theoperating member of the first switch 4 7 aligned with the pivot axis ofthe operating member of the second switch. A U-shaped resilient memberis [30] P Apphcauon Pnomy Data carried by the switches with the parallellimbs of the Feb. 28, 1970 Great Britain .9796 p member extendingParallel to and On P- posite sides respectively of the pivot axis of the[52] U.S. Cl. ..200/50 C operating members of the switches. The limbs ofthe [51] In t.Cl. ..l-l0lh 9/26 resilient member constitute first andsecond latch [58] Field of Search ..200/6 R, 5 E, 50 C, DIG. 6, pieces,the first latch piece co-operating with the 200/172 A operating membersof the first and second switches to prevent movement of the secondswitch from an off [56] References Cited position to an on positionuntil the first switch has beenwmoved to an on position, and the secondlatch UNITED STATES PATENTS piece co-operating with the operatingmembers of the 3,504,372 3/1970 Sharples .;.200/50 C first and secondswitches to prevent movement of the 3,213,326 10/1965 Gryctko .;200/5Q CX first switch from an on position to an off position until the secondswitch has been moved to an off position..

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ROCKER SWITCH INTERLOCK WITH SPRING LATCHMEMBER 1 This invention relates to rocker switch assemblies.

An assembly according to the invention includes first and second rockerswitches positioned side by side, with the pivot axis of the operatingmember of the first switch aligned with the pivot axis of the operatingmember of the second, switch, and a U-shaped resilient member carried bythe switches with the parallel limbs of the U-shaped member extendingparallel to and on opposite sides respectively of the pivot axis of theoperating members of the switches, the limbs of said resilient memberconstituting first and second latch pieces, the first latch piececo-operating with the operating members of the first and second switchesto prevent movement of the second switch from an off position to anon-position until the first switch has been moved to an on position, andthe second latch piece cooperating with the operating members of thefirst and second switches to prevent movement of the first switch froman on position to an off position until the second switch has been movedto an off position.

Preferably, the operating members of the first and second switchesinclude respective catches which are engageable by the first and secondlatch pieces respectively to prevent movement of the respectiveoperating members relative to the body, and further include respectivecam members operable to disengage said first and second latch piecesfrom their respective catches, movement of the operating member of thefirst switch to its on position causing its respective cam member tofree the second switch for movement to its on position and movement ofthe operating member of the second switch to its off position causingits respective cam member to free the first switch for movement to itsoff position.

One example, of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings wherein,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rocker switch assembly with the operatingmembers of the switches omitted or clarity,

FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views on the lines 2--2 and 3--3respectively in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of one of the springretaining members shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the rocker switch assembly includes first andsecond rocker switches 11, 12 which are positioned side by side with theaxis of movement of. the operating member 13 of the switch 11 alignedwith the pivotal axis of the operating member 14 of the switch 12. Theswitches 11, 12 are held in position relative to one another by amoulded nacelle 15 in which the switches 11, 12 are received as a snapit. Secured to the bodies of the switches l1, 12 between the bodies ofthe switches and the operating members of the switches is a U-shapedwire spring 16, the .pair of parallel limbs 17, 18 of which extendparallel to and on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of the operatingmembers 13, 14. The base of the spring 16 which interconnects the limbs17, 18 abuts against the inner surface of a wall 19 on the body of theswitch 11, and the spring is trapped in position relative to the switch11 and the switch 12 by a pair of restraining members 21, 22 engagedwith the bodies of the switches 11, 12 respectively.

The restraining members 21, 22 are substantially identical, and eachincludes a post (indicated by the suffix a in the drawings) which isengaged as an interference fit in a corresponding bore in the body ofthe respective switch. Integral with the posts 21a, 22a are fingers 21b,22b respectively, the fingers 21b overlying the limb 17 of the spring 16and the finger 22b overlying the limb 18 of the spring 16. The member 21engages the base of the spring 16 and the limb 17, and so traps the baseof the spring against the wall 19. The fin gers 21b, 22b which overliethe limbs 17, 18 respectively do not prevent flexure of the limbs 17, 18in the plane of the spring 16, but prevent flexure of the limbs 17, 18in a plane at right angles to the plane of the spring 16.

The face of the operating member 13 of the switch 11 which is presentedtowards the operating member 14 of the switch 12 is formed with a pairof extensions 23, 24 respectively, which extend between the bodies ofthe switches 11, 12. The extension 23 constitutes a catch, and theextension 24 is provided with an inclined surface 25, and constitutes acam member engaging the limb 18 of the spring 16. Similarly the face ofthe operating member 14 presented towards the operating member 13includes a pair of extensions 26, 27 which extend parallel with theextensions 23, 24, between the bodies of the switches 11, 12. Theextension 26 includes a surface 28, and constitutes a cam memberengaging the limb 17 of the spring 16, the extension 27 constituting acatch.

With the operating members 13, 14 in the positions shown in FIGS. 2 and3 both switches are in their off positions. The limb 17 of the spring 16is stressed outwardly in a direction away from the limb 18 by the cammember 28, while the limb 18 of the spring 16 is in its rest position.When the limb 18 is in its rest position the limb 18 engages the catch27 of the operating member 14, so that the operating member 14 cannot bemoved from its off position. However, the cam member 24 of the operatingmember 13 is also engaged with the limb 18, and movement of theoperating member 13 is not prevented by the limb 18. Thus upon movementof the operating member 13 from its off position to its on position thelimb 18 is flexed outwardly in a direction away from the limb 17 by thecam member 24 of the operating member 13, the limb 18 thereby beingmoved out of engagement with the catch 27 of the operating member 14,and releasing the operating member 14 for movement from its off positionto its on position.

Upon movement of the operating member 14 to its on position the cammember 26 is moved relative to the limb 17 of the spring 16, therebypermitting the limb 17 to return to its rest position. When the limb 17is in its rest position, with the operating member 13 in its on positionthen the limb 17 engages the catch 23 of the operating members 13 in amanner to prevent movement of the operating member 13 from its onposition to its off position. Thus before the operating member 13 can bereturned to its off position the operating member 4 must be moved to itsoff position so that the limb 17 is once again flexed out of engagementwith the catch 23 by the cam member 26 of the operating member 14.

In one practicalembodiment the switch 11 controls the side lights of aroad vehicle while the switch 12 controls the head lights of the roadvehicle. By virtue of the arrangement, the headlamps of the vehiclecannot be switched on until the side lamps have been switched on, andthe sidelamps cannot be switched off until the headlamps have beenswitched off.

It will be appreciated, that although FlGS. 2 and 3 show the operatingmembers l3, 14 in their off positions F IG, 1 does not show the limb 17of the spring 16 in a position corresponding to the off position of theoperating member 14. FIG. 1 shows the limbs 17, 18 of the spring 16 bothin their rest positions for convenience.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

,pieces and the operating members of the first and second switchesincluding respective catches which are engageable by the first andsecond latch pieces respectively to prevent movement of'the respectiveoperating members relative to the body in one direction, and theoperatingv members of the first and second switches further includingrespective cam r'nembers'operable to disengage said first and secondlatch pieces from their respective catches, movement of the operatingmember of the first switch to its on position causing the cam member ofthe first switch to move the first latch piece out of engagement withthe catch .of the operating member of the second switch so as to freethe operating member of the second switch for movement to its onposition, and movement of the operating member of the second switch toits off position causing the cam member of the operating member of thesecond switch to move the second latch piece out of engagement with thecatch of the operating member of the first switch so as to free theoperating member of the first switch for movement to its off position.

2. A' switch assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilientmember is engaged by a pair of restraining members carried by the firstand second switches respectively, means whereby said restraining membersallow flexure of the limbs of said resilient member in the plane of theresilient member whereby said first and second latch pieces can beengaged with and disengaged from their respective catches, and furtherprevent flexure of said limbs at right angles to the plane of theresilient member.

i t I I

1. A rocker switch assembly including first and second rocker switchespositioned side by side on a body, with the pivot axis of the operatingmember of the first switch aligned with the pivot axis of the operatingmember of the second switch, and a Ushaped resilient member carried bythe switches with the parallel limbs of the U-shaped member extendingparallel to and on opposite sides respectively of the pivot axes of theoperating members of the switches, the limbs of the resilient memberconstituting first and second latch pieces and the operating members ofthe first and second switches including respective catches which areengageable by the first and second latch pieces respectively to preventmovement of the respective operating members relative to the body in onedirection, and the operating members of the first and second switchesfurther including respective cam members operable to disengage saidfirst and second latch pieces from their respective catches, movement ofthe operating member of the first switch to its on position causing thecam member of the first switch to move the first latch piece out ofengagement with the catch of the operating member of the second switchso as to free the operating member of the second switch for movement toits on position, and movement of the operating member of the secondswitch to its off position causing the cam member of the operatingmember of the second switch to move the second latch piece out ofengagement with the catch of the operating member of the first switch soas to free the operating member of the first switch for movement to itsoff position.
 2. A switch assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidresilient member is engaged by a pair of restraining members carried bythe first and second switches respectively, means whereby saidrestraining members allow flexure of the limbs of said resilient memberin the plane of the resilient member whereby said first and second latchpieces can be engaged with and disengaged from their respective catches,and further prevent flexure of said limbs at right angles to the planeof the resilient member.